October 2025
Thorpe on the Hill Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting held 22nd October 2025 at 19:00 at The Oliver Roper Village Hall
25.10.01 Councillor (Cllr) Lyons welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Paul Smith for all the time and effort he has put into getting the village photographs displayed. Cllr Lyons then opened up the floor to the public.
25.10.02 Public Time
A question was raised regarding the request from the bowls club for the Parish Council to apply for a grant. If the grant were to be refused, would the Parish Council consider helping the club in any way.
Cllr Lyons advised that the item was on the agenda and would be discussed in full and this question addressed.
Thanks were extended from the Scouts group for allowing them to put up their pulley and Union Jack flag enabling the groups to follow their tradition of breaking the flag.
The Scouts representative asked if permission would be granted to put up 2 foldable hooks so the groups can display portraits of the King and Baden Powell during their sessions and remove them afterwards. This was agreed.
25.10.03 District/County Council Updates
Lincolnshire County Council
Apologies were received from Councillor Alan Woodruff who had sent his report to the clerk in advance of the meeting which included the following updates’
Thorpe on the Hill has been selected by Cllr Woodruff for this year’s Councillor Volunteer Scheme to clean and paint the village entrance gates and wheels.
PC Coaches has now amended their timetables, and 2 new bus stops have been approved. Little Thorpe Lane side of the current bus stop will have a pole installed next to the path with a flag sign and timetable. Opposite will have the same but with the inclusion of some hardstanding for passengers.
Sempers Close has been repaired and options for Blacksmiths Lane are being sought although this may be limited due to the narrowness of the lane and the highways requirements.
A ward round for Thorpe with the local highways officer is being planned, hopefully early in November with a date to be confirmed.
North Kesteven District Council
District Councillors Peter Overton and Mitch Elliott were in attendance. Cllr Overton advised that he has recently met with residents of Sempers Close regarding inconsiderate parking of vehicles not in relation to residents who live there and asked if the Parish Council could suggest any measures that could be put in place to deter this.
The Parish Council agreed to look into what signage could be used and added that the village hall car park was open to everyone which is a fact that not everyone is aware of and could be promoted more.
25.10.04 Formal Session Commenced at 19:30
25.10.05 Parish Council – Members, present, apologies for absence, declarations of interest, declarations of gifts/hospitality, training.
1. Membership: Councillors (Cllrs) Jason Bramford (Vice Chair), Zoe Ives, Carl Koenen, Nick Lyons (Chair), Charlotte Owen, Bob Sheldon MBE, Neville Williams.
2. Present: (Cllrs) Jason Bramford (Vice Chair), Zoe Ives, Carl Koenen, Nick Lyons (Chair), Charlotte Owen, Bob Sheldon MBE, Neville Williams.
3. Apologies: None
4. Declaration of interest: None
5. Declaration of gifts and hospitality over £25: None
25.10.06 - The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 3rd September 2025 were unanimously agreed as a true record by the members by a show of hands and signed by the Chair.
25.10.07- To consider whether the Council will move any items on the agenda to the closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 as per Standing Order 7h. No items proposed.
25.10.08 Cllr Lyons proposed agenda item 12 Bowls Club Funding Request, be brought forward to the next item. This was unanimously agreed.
25.10.09. Bowls Club Funding Request
Cllr Lyons summarised the situation regarding the application for funding for an irrigation system which has arisen due to the current water tank leaking. He added that the Parish Council has a responsibility to act in an unbiased way and to consider other groups in the village.
The Landfill Communities Fund has been contacted with an initial query regarding criteria suitability and have responded with concerns that the request does not represent good value for money as the group currently only has 16 members.
Cllr Lyons added that the Parish Council has a responsibility to fix or replace the leaking tank at the very least because this is a Parish Council asset and the water used on the site is paid for by the Parish Council and therefore being wasted. Cllrs Lyons asked the Parish Council 3 questions to consider and vote on.
- Should the Parish Council replace the existing water butt with a cylindrical plastic tank with the supportive structure and fittings needed and install a water meter. Decision - agreed by show of hands.
- Should the Parish Council apply for a grant on behalf on the club for an irrigation system as requested in the quotes supplied. Decision – refused by show of hands.
- Should the Parish Council ask the bowls club to explore cheaper options. Decision – agreed by show of hands.
25.10.10Financial matters
i. The list of payments and income were authorised and noted. Appendix A
ii. The financial report for the financial year to date was noted with no queries. Appendix B
iii. The conclusion of the 2024/25 external audit was noted.
iv. It was agreed to employ the services of LALC for the 2025/26 internal audit process.
25.10.11. Discuss and review the Parish Clerk report on ongoing/outstanding actions. Appendix C
25.10.12 Planning Applications – The following decisions were noted
- Application 25/0562/FUL Garage Brindley Close Thorpe on The Hill Lincoln: Change of use from garage to dwelling (including retrospective change to original design). Approved.
- Application Reference: 25/0741/FUL. Proposal: Siting of 2 no. Air Source Heat Pumps and associated formation of 2.8m high fenced compound: Whisby Natural World Moor Lane Thorpe on The Hill. Approved.
25.10.13 Traffic Calming
Cllr Lyons advised that 2 meetings have taken place recently regarding traffic calming measures. One with the Head of Highways Sam Edwards and the second with Balfour Beatty who are the contractors employed for the new bypass.
Cllr Koenen advised that he had attended the meeting with Balfour Beatty which was very positive and where temporary measures were discussed during the construction period of the new bypass.
The Parish Clerk added that the traffic calming meetings were instigated following residents’ concerns regarding issues in the village now and not necessarily in relation to the planning of the new bypass and added that there had been an indication from Sam Edwards that it may be possible to introduce some trial temporary measures now.
It was agreed that the clerk would feedback the support from the Parish Council to highways for the implementation of temporary measures and determine a timescale. Action Parish Clerk
25.10.14. AGAR 2025/26 New Assertion 10 Criteria.
i. To consider the adoption of an IT Policy. Draft circulated to Parish Councillors prior to the meeting. Cllr Lyons pointed out that the policy contained a commitment to undertake training. Decision agreed.
ii. To consider the purchase of a .gov.uk or .org.uk email address for the use of the Parish Clerk. Decision agreed.
25.10.15 To consider a village hall booking request for permission to apply for a temporary event notice with the intention of selling alcohol. Decision agreed.
25.10.16 Christmas. To discuss if the Parish Council should purchase additional Christmas décor for the outside of the village hall. Decision agreed.
25.10.17 Correspondence received that has not been circulated to the wider Parish or is not on the agenda.
None
25.10.18 Verbal updates from portfolio holders .
- Allotments – Cllr Lyons
- Finance – Cllr Bramford
- Lake Management Committee – Cllr’s Bramford, Lyons, Sheldon MBE – The fishing club have withdrawn their request for disabled access.
- Oliver Roper playpark & tennis courts– Cllr Owen
- Planning – Cllrs Koenen, Lyons and Williams
- Staffing Committee – Cllr’s Ives, Lyons and Sheldon MBE
- Whisby Quarry Liaison meeting – Cllrs Lyons
- Whisby Nature Park Steering Board – Cllr Sheldon MBE
- Wildlife – Cllr Lyons
- Village Hall – Cllrs Lyons, Ives and Owen
Cllr Bramford advised that quarter 2 of the internal audit process has been completed with no issues.
25.10.19 Future meeting dates
Parish Council Meetings
3 December 2025.
14 January 2026, 25 February 2026, 8 April 2026, 20 May 2026, 1 July 2026, 2 September 2026, 14 October 2026, 25 November 2026.l
Lake Committee Meeting
29 October 2025
Appendix A, B and C can be viewed on the PDF version or in an alternate format by contacting the clerk at clerk@thorpeonthehillparishcouncil.gov.uk
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Parish Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as official minutes of Council proceedings until approved and signed at the next meeting.